I have just started the Harcombe Diet - anyone else doing/done it?

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Today was day one of Phase one, and it's been OK. Even giving up coffee, which I was very concerned about, as I know how I've suffered from withdrawal symptoms in the past!

But the time had to come for me to take myself in hand.

I'm a long-term (on and off) low-carber, so I know the rules/ropes about low-carbing, but the thing that appealed to me about THD is that you're allowed rice and pasta in phase 2. Not being able to have these things is what has led to me being an on and off low carber.

However, the weight has gradually piled on and I'm heavier than I've ever been. I have very few clothes I can fit into - even my 'fat' clothes are getting too tight.

And my IBS has flared up again, which is a sure sign that something has to change.

Today I have eaten:

2 boiled eggs for breakfast
chicken and mixed veg stir fry for lunch
a hard-boiled egg as an early evening snack
bolognese sauce (minus the red wine and mushrooms!) on a bed of thinly shredded cabbage - without Parmesan - for dinner.

Instead of drinking coffee, I've been drinking peppermint tea (good for my IBS too) and sparkling water.

I am going to weigh myself on Saturday, which will (theoretically) be the beginning of Phase 2. I may continue on Phase 1, depending on how it does/how I feel/what the scales tell me.

Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated.

[sniffy]

OP, I do agree that sometimes it helps to have something else to focus on - a plan of some sort, and I do with you the best of success and hope I have not rained on your parade

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Not at all

Based on what I've done before and what I've read about, this sounds worth a good try. If it doesn't work, then I will go back to my usual (but more disciplined!) low carbing, as I know that works for me.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

And I started this thread because I wanted to find out what other people's experiences were, both positive and negative.

[jasper]

I remember Harcombe

sad to say, I had the most horrendous , uncontrollable cravings about a month into this diet, The link above also links to a previous thread.

[TennisFan]

I started this diet earlier in the summer. My DH did it too for moral support. He lost inches he didn't need to lose and I didn't!

The book makes sense to me but I found phase 2 difficult to manage. I struggled to find interesting things to eat etc. I'm quite a fussy eater and missed my bread.

I think I will just try low carb instead as that is more manageable for me.

It's so hard isn't it. Also I have to see my diet nurse tomorrow and after 2 weeks in France unable to resist the bread and wine I know there will be no weight loss this month again.
Also my Achilles is still killing me so finding it hard to do any sort of regular exercise.

[Shaxx]

TennisFan you didn't lose anything?

I think this is more manageable for me than low carbing as you're allowed one rice/porridge meal a day.
I can't do the strict low carb diets.

So far so good but I'll see how it goes.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Actually, apart from the lack of coffee and soft drinks, this isn't too restrictive for me at all! I'm used to avoiding carbs (for the most part). What it is making me do, though, is be more disciplined about how much I'm eating. I'm not eating any snacks, such as cheese and nuts - and I'm sure that was causing me a problem as I must have been eating way too many carbs as well as too many calories (even though we know calories don't count ).

I'm also not drinking, which is bound to make a difference (I bloody hope so).

Thanks for the link jasper - I will have a read.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Today so far:

breakfast - 2 boiled eggs
lunch - left-over roast chicken and veg (peppers, leeks, cauliflower and onion)

Dinner tonight will be a duck breast with either celeriac or swede, and broccoli.

[Shaxx]

I had a friend over this afternoon and we had tea and nibbles. I didn't have too much because I genuinely didn't feel like it.

I went straight back to protein and salad for dinner as I'm looking to stay on this for at least a couple of weeks. Hopefully the blip didn't cause too much damage.

I'm meant to be going out with a friend and the kids for the day tomorrow. I'm not sure how to deal with it as we ll be out for the whole day. Any suggestions?

Any suggestions?

[Shaxx]

Sorry didn't mean to ask twice!

Todays food was

porridge
chicken and salad
few crisps, bit of homemade wholemeal apple cake
chicken and green beans.

[AitchTwoOh]

BIWIBIWIBIWI i am IN. think i will have to get dd2's birthday party out of the way first but i will start next week. one of my friends swears by harcombe, and has been on a solid losing streak for a year ish. she really likes eating that way, andwhile she falls off the wagon occasionally can get herself back on mon-fri quite easily.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Hello Aitch! Welcome - the more the merrier.

Shaxx, I'm not really sure what to eat out and about. Can you take a picnic? That way you are in control. You could take roasted chicken pieces, some home-made coleslaw (make with yoghurt instead of oil and vinegar), a roasted pepper salad (just sliced, pan-fried with onion and lots of olive oil). You could even make a rice salad with your rice allowance.

If you're on Phase 2 I would guess it's a bit easier, but I have to confess I haven't quite got my head round Phase 2 yet. To be honest, I'm a bit nervous about moving onto the next phase and introducing carbs. The way I'm eating at the moment suits me quite well (although I miss not being able to use vinegar in salad dressing).

Dinner this evening was a duck breast, just seasoned and pan-fried, served on a bed of pureed swede (pureed with butter, salt and black pepper), and broccoli that had been sauteed with onion and chilli flakes.

I had a hard boiled egg earlier in the afternoon and some yoghurt, which I really enjoyed.

[Shaxx]

I lost no weight when I went to phase 2 last time so I'm going to stick to phase one for a while.
I've got some chicken ready cooked so could take that with me.
I can't remember but can we eat sweet potatoes?

[JerryFud]

Hello, please could I join. I'm a serious yo-yo dieter but am sick to death of stopping and starting. Saw this thread earlier and downloaded the kindle book and thats it, tomorrow I'm going to start. I would like to lose about a stone and a half but would be happy with a stone to be honest!! Phase 1 day 1 starts tomorrow!

[AitchTwoOh]

i am sure i used to enjoy tuna mayo (yog, probably) with celery when i was out and about, it's really, really filling. or geek salad.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Geek salad?! How many carbs in that?

I haven't weighed myself yet (I simply couldn't bear to), so I have no idea how much I will, hopefully, have lost in Phase 1. My plan at the moment is to carry on as I am, although I will allow some red wine at the weekend. I am going to weigh myself first thing on Saturday as that will be the end of the first five days - that becomes my 'official' start, and I will track my weight from there.

I've bought some brown rice, but I still can't get my head around being allowed to have that, so I haven't eaten any of it [scaredycat].

My book isn't due to arrive until 5 September, so I'll have to go back to the Kindle version and have a longer think about phase 2.

Oh - and welcome, JerryFud!

[Shaxx]

I don't actually have her book! I've got a couple of her diet plans.
One is in the Mirror online and another I got from registering on her website.
I'm following those and shredding too.

You'll be fine eating the brown rice! As long as its the right portion and its your only carb in the day. :)

[AitchTwoOh]

well not much in greek salad, and if you make a tuna salad with the same geek ingreds that's also nice.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Have you done it before, Aitch? How did it go, if you did?

[AitchTwoOh]

what, the harcombe thing? nope. i actually got the books and was going to do it, but the addition of carbs freaked me out (was low carbing at the time, with great success) so i didn't do it. lent books to pal, though, and she loved it.

i really like low carbing, tbh, but when i fall off the wagon i get so 'fuck it' about it so quickly, that i don't think it's sustainable for me.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

I am exactly the same - with predictable results. I like the idea of being able to include carbs, which is why I was drawn to THD, but it also makes me very nervous. I can't quite see how it can work!

[AitchTwoOh]

well i know my pal is doing slimming world and she says they have a new plan that involves carbs, protein and veggies in equal measures...

speaking of 'oh fuck it' i have just had a chocolate milk shake.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

So not 'in the zone' then?!

[AitchTwoOh]

not even slightly. will work up to it. dh made crusty bread this morning, the githead.

[Shaxx]

You will have to gain some strength from somewhere

I just made crusty bread too and have put a chocolate cake in the oven.
I keep telling myself that its for the children and my body doesn't need it
So far so good today